Extension banquet-table



No. '6l4,468. Patented Nov. 22, I898. F. H. HARDING.

EXTENSION BANQUET TABLE.

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

A NOR/V5 W as co, Pno'roun ov, wnsummow a c No. 6l4,468. Patented Nov. 22. I898. F. H. HARDING.

EXTENSION BANQUET TABLE. (Application filed me. 31, 1897.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES //v VENTOB A TIM/v55- THE NORRIS mans co. mmoummwunmamu, n. c.

N0. 6I4.468. Patented Nov. 22, I898.

F. H. HARDING.

EXTENSION BANQUET TABLE.

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

INVENTOH 5y %M sg rrows/5w NIT-ED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

FELIX HADLEY HARDING, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

EXTENSION BANQUET-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,468, dated November 22, 1898.

Application filed December 31, 1897. Serial No. 664,900. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FELIX HADLEY HARD- ING, of Cleveland, Ouyahoga county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension Banquet-Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to so-called extension-tables, such as are adjustable in size and shape to varying requirements.

The object of my-invention is to provide a table which can be used as a simple breakfasttable or a work-table and can also be changed into a banquet-table, if desired or found necessary.

My invention consists in the features of construction and combination of elements hereinafter fully described, and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure I represents a construction of table, showing the same in vertical cross-section, embodying my invention.

. This figure also shows in section the tank and its adjuncts contained in the center of the pedestal. Fig. 11 illustrates in plan the top of the table constructed according to my invention', and the same is made round or circular. This figure also shows in dotted lines the supporting-frame in position, with its folding bars arranged for this shape of table. Fig. III is a plan view illustrating the table when put together and arranged so as to form an oblong table. This figure also illustrates in dotted lines the position of the framework and folding bars. Fig. IV is a perspective View of one end of the table, showing the bars folded and secured to the slide. Fig. V is a perspective View showing the manner of hinging the bars constituting the frame. Fig. VI is a plan View showing means for fasten ing the sections of the table-top together. Fig. VII is a detail view showing seats in the pedestal under the slides. Fig. VIII is a detail View showing a groove in the extensionslide, and Figs. IX and X are respectively plan views with the flower-supporting devices removed.

A represents the'oentral pedestal, which is preferably formed cylindrical in shape, being paneled and ornamented according to taste. This pedestal A forms the main support for the framework and top of the table and when the parts are closed together receives in its interior parts of the framework, such as dropping slides and the free ends of the slides, thus hiding them from observation.

B is a tank suitably mounted in pedestal A in such a manner as to be adjustable in a vertical direction, so that the tank may be raised and lowered to project its contents (as flowers or foliage) more or less above the level of thetable or lowered below the level of the table-top and covered over. This is accomplished by providing on the bottom of the tank B a hollow screw-threaded stem B,which operates in an internallyscrewthreaded standard B extending from the floor A of pedestal A. Thus it will be seen as tank B is revolved in one direction or the other it is raised or lowered in said pedestal.

, The tankB is formed water-tight and provided with double side walls 5 b, with a space 19 between them. This space b receives the overflow from the tank B, and it is carried off from thence through the hollow screw B and suitable pipe B B represents the water-- feed pipe, which also extends upward through the hollow screw B and from thence passes into the tank 13, being suitably swiveled, so as to allow said tank to revolve. The outlet to the pipe B in the tank B may be, if de= sired, shaped so as to throw a fountain of water, thus producing an artificial fountain effect, or, if desired, the tank B may be filled with water, and flowers may be placed or banked therein, the flowers extending through the top of the table, (the portion of the top directly above tank B being removed,) as illustrated in Fig. II of the drawings.

When the tank B is used as a flower vase or container, I prefer to provide it with two vertically-adjustable disks ]3 B, the disk 13 being suitably perforated to allow the stems of the flowers or foliage .to pass through and to support them. This disk 13 is preferably located somewhere near the top of the tank 13. The disk B is located near the bottom of the tank B and is provided with anumber of stickers or pins 19 projecting upwardly, which support the lower ends of the stems of the flowers or foliage by engagingthem, thus keeping the flowers or foliage in position'as arranged and the water in the tank keeping them fresh.

The disks ]3 and B are made vertically adjustable in the tank 13 by means of a screwthreaded stein B which engages nuts formed in the centers of the disks, respectively.

0 0 represent ad j ustable legs or supports, of which there are four. These legs or supports C are mounted on platforms 0 C, which are in turn preferably provided with suitable casters. At the upper end or top of the legs or supports 0 they are provided with a number of folded bars a c c a, hinged one to the other and at opposite ends by hinges 0 0 The bars 0 are hinged at their ends, as at 0 to one side of a slide 0 which is securely fastened, as shown more clearly in Fig. II of the drawings, to the rear end of the top of the legs or supports 0. The bars 0 c are secured, as at 0 to the slide 0 as indicated in Fig. IV. Thus it will be seen that these bars 0 c and c a when unfolded may be made to assume a supporting-frame, such as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. II or as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. III. The meeting ends of the respective bars of the different legs are joined together in any suitable manner, either, as indicated in Fig. II at c, by folding them face to face or in any other suitable,

1nanner-such, for instance, as overlapping them.

The manner of hinging the bars 0 c is indicated more clearly in Fig. V of the drawings, as is also the manner of unfolding and arranging them.

In Fig. IV of the drawings is illustrated more clearly one of the legs or supports C,

showing the same with the parts folded to-' gether.

In order to support the legs 0 in relation to the center pedestalA, I have provided at the upper end of the legs 0 a slide C that is secured at one end to the top of the legs 0 and that at its free end is provided with a hinged extension (3 The lower ends of the legs 0 at their platform are provided with a slide 0 The slides C and C engage, respectively, ways a and a, formed in the pedestal A and shown more clearly in Fig. VII of the drawin gs. The extension-slide O is preferably constructed as illustrated in Fig. VIII and is provided with a groove, which is guided by spuds a which project upward from the bottom of the way (1.. However, any suitable construction of slides and guides or ways may be used in this connection.

The several sections or leaves which constitute the top of the table are made orformed according to their position on the top or in the top and also according to the desired shape the table is to assume, as illustrated more clearly in Figs. II and III of the drawings.

In Fig. VI of the drawings I have illustrated my preferred locking device and key for operating the same,whereby the several sections which constitute the table-top are securely fastened together at their meeting or contiguous edges. In this figure, D illustrates the table-top section, which is provided on its under side with small extending cleats (Z (Z at one edge and recesses d d at the opposite edge, the cleats d (1 being adapted to fit into the recesses or seats d of the next or meeting section. D represents a rod of metal which passes from side to side, or, more properly speaking, from edge to edge, of the section D. At one end of the rod D it is provided with a screw-thread (Z and at its opposite end is provided with a receiving-thread, which is formed by two spring-operated toothed jaws d (1 the object of which is to allow the screw-threaded end d to freely or easily enter and at the same time securely engage with the teeth of the jaws d (1 thus when the parts are screwed together holding the contiguous sections firmly in position. A key D is provided for operating the bar D, and its operation will be easily understood.

While I have set forth and described a table the details of which are illustrated as bein g constructed as I prefer to construct them and arrange them, still I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to such details, inasmuch as they may be varied more or less without departing from my invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a convertible table, the combination with a central hollow pedestal adapted to support the main structure or framework of a vertically-adjustable tank located in the center of said pedestal, said tank being provided with suitable means for supplying the same with water and allowing the said water to overflow, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

2. In a convertible table of the character described, the combination with a. central pedestal and its contained tank, a lower plate provided with a suitable number of pins or stickers and an upper plate provided with a suitable number of apertures, substantially as described, whereby flowers and the like may be suitably arranged in said tank and be properly retained in position when arranged, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a table leaf or top section, of a bolt extending transversely of the leaf, and provided at one end with external screw-threads, and at its opposite end with internally-threaded spring-pressed jaws.

4. In a convertible table of the character described, the combination with the central pedestal of a tank contained therein, said tank provided, at its lower end, with means for adjusting it vertically, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

5. In a convertible table of the character described, a tank located in the center of said table, said tank bein gformed double the space between the two portions forming the outlet for the overflow of the water, of two verticallyadjustable plates located in the interior of the tank, said plates provided with means substantially such as described for retaining flowers or the like in the proper position.

6. The combination with a table having a 5 central hollow pedestal, of a tank arranged within the pedestal, and means for raising and lowering said tank.

7. The combination with a table having a hollow pedestal below its top surface, of a 10 tank arranged within said pedestal, means for adjusting the tank vertically, and a support for flowers or the like within the tank.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of November, 1897.

FELIX HADLEY HARDING.

Witnesses:

' W. E. DONNELLY,

ELLA E. TILDEN. 

